Greek Members of European Parliament React to Mogherini Macedonia Statement

Two Greek members of European Parliament reacted after EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini called the Republic of Macedonia simply - Macedonia - instead of using the long temporary reference form, MIA correspondent from Athens reports.

In a joint letter, representatives Nikos Androulakis and Eva Kaili, both from the small PASOK party, say that Mogherini was wrong to use the word Macedonia, and should have used the full temporary reference - "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". Mogherini was speaking about the upcoming reform of European neighbourhood policy when she was asked by journalists about a comment on Macedonia, and she used "Macedonia", twice, to refer to the country. Androulakis is a Cretan, but Kaili comes from a family of Greek refugees from Turkey who settled in northern Greece, a region where the Macedonian naming issue causes particularly high nationalist outbursts.

Greek politicians in Brussels keep constant pressure on European institutions to use the long reference name, even trying to use a Greek preferred shorter version - fyrom - whenever possible. "Therefore, we would kindly ask you to proceed to all necessary steps in order to remedy and avoid in the future the above mentioned contradiction", Kaili and Androulakis write in their letter to Mogherini.

Using its diplomats in EU institutions, Greece has also tried to erase any mention of the Macedonian language and nationality in European Union reports. Macedonia has refused to accept reports that make a deliberate effort to avoid naming the Macedonians as a people.